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Thursday, October 27, 2011

Making an Entrance

I have posted about my front room “design dilemma” on a couple of occasions (see here and especially here)…well, I have finally been working on a solution!Before you get too excited…the whole room is not ready. I’ve just been working on my “entrance” (or lack thereof). You never get a second chance to make a first impression, right?
I posted a teaser yesterday, and the suitcase wall definitely seemed to capture the most attention, so I’ll focus on that first!
I don’t claim credit for the idea of turning vintage suitcases into shelves. That came from this magazine…
…which my neighbor purchased, and I, shall we say--commandeered for several weeks!
Here are the things I needed for this project:

Vintage suitcases

1x10 wood

Painter’s tape and scrap paper (for templates)

2 1/2” screws (big ones)

3/4” screws (little ones)

Level

Jigsaw

Table Saw

Electric drill with a screwdriver bit

The hardest part—emotionally, that is—is that in order to get this look, you DO have to cut innocent luggage in half.

You can call me the Suitcase Slasher.

That may be my Halloween costume.

I don’t have pictures to share of that process. It is very hard to take pictures while running a table saw!
I measured approximately 6 inches from the front of each suitcase and drew a line, then I used the table saw to cut each half of the suitcase as far as it was able. THIS IS SCARY!! No joke. If you can, remove as much of the lining as possible before cutting, as when the table saw hits the fabric it will catch and make a funny sound and send your stomach leaping to your throat!
Now, my blade wasn’t high enough to get all the way through even one-half of a suitcase, so I used a jigsaw to finish the cuts (I originally tried to use the jigsaw alone, but my jigsaw couldn’t walk a straight line for a policeman). Since some of my suitcases had metal banding, I used a metal blade on my jigsaw (you DON’T want to send metal through any saw that isn’t fitted with a metal blade).
Next step: measure the opening at the back of your poor mangled suitcase, then cut a board to fit the opening (I cut my backs out of a 1 x 10 pine board).
I enlisted helpers to begin arranging the suitcases on the wall…
…and I actually used wrapping paper cut to size to get the layout right on the wall (I lived with that up for about a week).
There is more than one way to mount your suitcases to the wall. The magazine suggested cutting keyhole hangers in the backs of the boards, screwing the suitcases to the boards, and then hanging.

I didn’t do it that way.

I used a stud finder to mark out the studs in my wall, and then I screwed the boards directly to the studs. Your boards DO NOT have to be centered on the studs, they just have to cross over two of them. Start one screw (I used 2 1/2” screws), then level your board, then screw in the next one. It’s very helpful to have a teenage daughter help at this point!

Eek! A mouse! I promise, it’s just a Halloween decoration.

Once the boards are in place, I used four 3/4” screws to attach the suitcase to the board (one top, one bottom, on each side).

These things are sturdy!

I had fun “shopping” my house for accessories for my new shelves! My folding yardstick star (I tried to fold it into a pumpkin—major fail) from Suzanne at Meridian Road looks great next to my grandfather’s cloth tape measure.
A wooden spool is pressed into service as a makeshift vase.
Glittery spiders and pumpkins have taken up residence everywhere!
I haven’t decided what to do about the open space at the bottom. Either I need another suitcase (or two), or a narrow bench. What do you think?
I think it’s official…I am a despoiler of suitcases (remember this one that I painted).

140 comments:

FABULOUS! I saw that on the magazine cover and so wanted to do it. Since I probably never will it is great to live vicariuosly through your step by step process. Love it, you did a fantastic job and it looks amazing!Deb

Wow, Korrie! How awesome! I Love how your suitcase wall turned out. Thanks for sharing the step by step process. I can imagine how scarey it was to cut the suitcases. My heart is always pounding anytime I use my tablesaw, Lol!

So Slasher, I mean Korrie, I just noticed at the beginning of this post that you changed the staircase, too! I don't know why I didn't notice that yesterday! I think it all looks great and I will enjoy your showing everything off. I saw a chair made out of a suitcase here:

Nothing there to have remorse over that's for sure - it looks tremendous! Makes me want to do the same... I shared your photo on my blog today!Oh and since you asked about your empty space down below, I was thinking how cool the remnants of your leftover suitcases would look 2 or 3 stacked with feet attached, as a stand.Thanks for sharing!

FAN-FREAKEN-TASTIC! Yours looks sooo much better than the magazine cover! I vote for a bench under. Maybe something with a lower shelf that would hold a couple small vintage hat box style suitcases that could hold hats and mittens etc?

Oh wow, girl, that is incredible...I probably would have been crying as I was cutting...I get emotional about the stupidest things....Aren't old suitcases so interesting....I always wonder what story they tell! High 5, great project!

This is great! I also love how you changed your staircase & added the dark wood. I also stained mine a darker color & love how it turned out. I'm your newest follower. I'd love you to stop by my new blog & follow along too.Sally

I really do like your entrance accented with suitcases. What a novel idea!! I think a bench would look really good under the suitcases. A place for someone to sit to take off shoes and put them under the bench.

WOW...you have officially been pinned! and the hunt is on for old suitcases...thanks. Would love it if you would link this up to our Rockin' link party going on now at RoCa and Company. Here is the link: http://rocaandcompany.blogspot.com/2011/10/you-rock-7.html. Come and show off what you got. Hope to see you there...

You are truly brave and it was so worth all the effort. I wish you had gigantic photos so I could have a close up drool encounter with your project. :) I am thinking bench for sure. Maybe some suitcases or baskets under the bench for storage.

That is simply amazing! I love the look and really spotted out that cover when I saw it, cool idea. Thanks so much for joining in on the fun. Can you please add the verbage you are joining in on my Magazine copy cat challenge. I would love to get word out for next month's challenge. Thank you.

Ummm wow!! I have old suitcases and doing something like this would have never entered my skull. I'd LOVE for you to share this over at Trash 2 Treasure Tuesdays on the Korner! http://kammyskorner.blogspot.com/2011/10/trash-2-treasure-tuesdays-4.html

Suh-weet! If the space will allow, I love the idea about putting a trunk underneath, suggested by Eileen. If not, why not simply put a suitcase against the wall? Another idea your wall brought to mind was a travel theme with a small vintage hotel "key holder" (hung above the light switch or above the spool) or a framed map of a special vacation your family took. Good job! Love your blog!

Oh boy! I saw that magazine too and while I liked the idea, it wasn't really something I thought I'd want to try. Yours is so beautiful tho... don't know if it's the suitcases you chose or what?! But I love it! And you are so brave with the saw... I'm too chicken to use one of those... Daaadddd!!! LOL!

Hi Korrie,I just saw your suitcases over at Honey's party...If you get a chance, go see what I wrote as a comment...I think you'll be giggling! I think these gorgeous suitcases have made you FAMOUS! They're amazing!xoCindy

I'm so glad Gail featured this today because I MISSED this when you posted it! OMG, it's amazing. I had that project on my Must try list ever since seeing the cover of the magazine but I wasn't sure how to go about it since I only saw the cover. Thanks for sharing how you did it, it makes a lot of sense. So, Slasher, what are you going to do with the rear ends of the suitcases that are left over? hmmmm? ;)

Thank you for participating in our link party at http://conservationofeggs.blogspot.com/2011/10/3rd-conservation-linky-share-ways-that.html

About the space toward the bottom, If the heights of the bottom suitcases were swapped, I'd put a small desk in th4e space. As it is, I don't know if you can put anything there without interfering with traffic flow.

I know that I would be constantly bumping into something that close to a corner.

Very impressive. I just love it. No space here... but if I could I would! :)Assuming you can't actually create this with usable storage space inside?! But that would be so amazing and helpful, right?!Meredith From A Mother Seeking Come find me on my blog, A Mother Seeking...

These shelves are amazing. I just aquired 2 vintage suitcases that i was going to make into a chair and an ottoman , but I may have to change the plan now that ive seen these. Great job. I am now a follower, can't wait to see more

ok ok now I know youve heard everything by now so all the awesome comments have been used,and I dont want to sound repetative,but this is so cool!I cant stop looking at this wall of coolness:))WOW you hit this one WAYYYYYYYYYY outta the ball park! Great job,Deidre~ stop over sometime and chat wont you.http://simplysimplisticated4.blogspot.com

Since I'm new around the neighborhood I wasn't here last year when you did your suitcase wall. It's fabulous, a great first impression. I'm in Minnesota, and an Junkmarket follower of Ki & Sue back when they opened their shop in Long Lake. This year I was able to attend Junk Bonanza last fall and suitcases were everywhere! Now, can't find a vintage one in the whole state. You helped start the trend.

I´ve got an old oversea chest. It looks a lot like the brown suitcase. Got it from my mother. I need to ask her, where she got it from. It would look fantastic with your vintage suitcase shelves. I could bite myself for leaving those old vintage suitcases of my grandfather at his place. I guess my uncle throw them to the trash. Maybe you can find such a chest at ebay or an a flea market. My chest looks a lot like this one: http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I_XhtIL5PKY/TnpBLv3Ko1I/AAAAAAAAEN0/NK5hVzT0AcY/DSC_0497.JPG. You can sit on it, if you are skinny . We used it a lot as bench, my brother and I, when we were kids.

That IS cool. And it wouldn't be impossible to turn the suitcases into storage by hinging the tops. Although in that case one would want to delicately roll back the lining instead of tearing it all out, or re-line the whole thing.

Hey there! Just wanted to let you know we featured you in our Favorite Find Fridays post over at Whimsically Homemade. We used one of your pictures. If that's a problem let us know and we'll remove it immediately. Thanks for your great inspiration!

I have lots of suitcases and no saw or courage to cut them up. If anyone wants vintage suitcases come visit my shop on Etsy for some gems! Found your blog via Pinterest tonight--how fun! Thanks for the inspiration.